I am starting this thread here so as not to get yelled at for taking a feedback thread "off topic".

In a recent feedback thread, k0pd states, "Why would you expect someone to ship any thing first and send you tracking numbers with out you first paying? Their are some Hams on here i would ship to instantly before receiving there payment but those are a select few."

OK, this is not intended to either agree or disagree with his opinion, it seems to be universal in the Ham world and I only quote this particular instance as it raised my curiosity.

I guess my question is, "Why would I send you money and then simply trust that you will send me the item(s)?"

In other words, other things being equal, both parties are strangers to each-other, feedback is available for both buyer and seller - or, maybe for neither, why is trust always expected to be extended in one direction and not the other?

In a commercial transaction, I have credit card protection. Businesses ship to other businesses and sometimes to individuals on an invoice basis. You could say Hams have PayPal protection, but we all know that is not always "good" protection, so I more or less discount that.

If both party's feedback is good - or even if neither has feedback, what's the reluctance Hams have to cross-shipping goods and payments? You don't trust a stranger to pay you, but you expect a stranger to fire money off in your direction and trust you to ship?